Easy LoungeOne of the few places using fresh juices and fruit in their amazing seasonal cocktails. Plus they have the best DJs in the bay and a smoking patio. This is my favorite of the favorites. — zooey66

SidebarAll their specialty drinks are served two ways: Classicist (a classic preparation) and Locavore (preparation focusing on local ingredients). Try the locavore for a new take on your favorite drink. — adamsax

Best Coffee
Mexican Organic at Cole CoffeeForget all the fashionistas. This is the real deal brew ha ha. — balanceman

Best coffeehouseZocalo

In San Leandro. — PamelaE

Best Deli
GenovaAre there other delis? — balanceman

The one on Solano that has a Z in it. — alxndr

Best Desserts
Nieves Cinco de MayoSr. Abundis mixes up his own homemade ice cream by hand. The flavors are sublime ... there are the usual but also the unusual — rose petal queso (cheese) pecan and corn. Muy sabroso! — pamela magnuson-peddle

Best Mexican or Central-American Restaurant
El Rincon in RichmondNo one probably knows about it. It is great. — iggygoo

Best New Restaurant
SR24Best food in Oakland. I'm almost too scared to sing its praises for fear I'll never be able to get a table in there again. — hledeen

Best Pizza
Cheese BoardMost of the time. — Chandrika

Cioccolata Di VinoBest thin-crust pizza. — Rebecca1801

Zachary's PizzaHands down the BEST in the WORLD!! — beefcakestevo

Lo Coco'sI am so very over Zachary's! — leesajay

Oliveto'sWe did an exhaustive study. — iggygoo

Pizza AnticaI not a real pizza lover but I am now since eating at Antica! — Trish M

Pizza PazzaTheir gluten-free crust is great and always about $5 less than Xtreme's gluten-free offerings. — bradlb

Best Salads
Cafe 817's prosciutto saladI'm cheating...this is just one salad but what a salad. It is the perfect lunch — a big mound of fresh mixed greens draped with the best Italian prosciutto and topped with thin slices of parmesan cheese. With Acme levain toasts on the side. The dressing is the perfect blend of olive oil and slightly tart vinegar ... this with one of 817's great lattes is the perfect midday meal. — pamela magnuson-peddle

Chop BarTHE best burger I've ever had. Their other selections are amazing as well. — devildog66

Europa Deli in OrindaOh my god, the Reuben sandwich. — Stephen Buel

Saul's DeliThe Pastrami!!! — Frieda Hoffman

The Break RoomVegan sandwiches! — hiyou

Best Seafood
Dead FishCrockett. — krackstirnt

GatherFrom Monterey Fish Market! — dckdck

Jade PalaceGarlic Crab. Cracked tempura battered in the shell, deep fried, then tossed in a hot wok with garlic and jalepeno's. OMG! DELISH! So glad everyone doesn't know about this place...Oops they do NOW!! — tork

MaricaChris Cheung is a culinary genius! — christad289

Best Southern/Soul Food
Brown Sugar KitchenOakland should be proud to have this destination restaurant. Tanya Holland is sharing the love in her little spot in West Oakland. There are crowds every weekend for a reason! — Psurkis

Home of Chicken and WafflesAdded benefit of being open until 3. — Oakonnor

Souley VeganI'm sure people automatically take it out of the non-vegan categories but it really stands up to carnivorous soul food restaurants! — mr.adambeck

Best Steaks
Luka's Tap Room Rib Eye.Just order one and then you tell me. ;-) — DangerGirl2000

Best Taco truck
El NovilloThe only taco truck I've been to in Fruitvale whose guacamole is worth the extra cash. — skaroly

Zamorano's Parking Lot at High StreetIn this summer this taco truck grills meat and green onions in the open; the food is amazing! — BethLM

Best Take-Out Food
La MéditerranéeYou can eat there too but getting their food take-out is a great dinner party at home. — kathyk

Best Teahouse
TeanceThis place is extraordinary. It's the best tea house in the entire Bay Area. Don't miss it. — zorro

Best Thai/Lao/Burmese restaurant
Burma SuperstarThis place is delicious though really really really these guys need to invest in some soundproofing! That place is the loudest restaurant I've ever been in! Not a good date or conversation spot because of this! — mr.adambeck

Champa GardenHands down! Best everything. — NicoJ

Ruen PairHands down the best Thai food in the East Bay. — gschwartz23

Vulcan Thai CafeVulcan Art Studios San Leandro Blvd. — bobbyjean

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant
Cafe GratitudeWhat a special place. So unique and full of love and being present when eating. Most of us humans take that for granted! Not here. :) — peacefulryan

GatherNot veg but very veg-friendly — best place to take a veg if you're not veg. — kfingerman

ManzanitaGo when Tenzen is the cook M-F lunch. — lynwoods

Veggie FoodsShe remembers what you ordered the time before. — Chandrika

Best Vietnamese/Cambodian Restaurant
Kangnam PhoYeah it's staffed by Koreans but they have a Vietnamese chef who makes good pho. — alxndr

Best Vietnamese/Cambodian Restaurant

Pho HoaPho show!! — lanative

Best Vietnamese/Cambodian Restaurant

Rang DongSince at least the Sixties. Still great. — iggygoo

Most Communal Communal Tables
Amanda'sSeats 22 made from reclaimed wood from a barge — you can see the dark stains from the minerals in the water. — Amanda